History Recap / TheSimpsonsS6E14BartsComet

As the comet approaches nearer, people try jumping their cars over the gorge in absence of the destroyed bridge (only to fall to their deaths), the House of Representatives strikes down a proposed bill that would have evacuated the town after one Congressman also proposes funding pornography with the bill, and Kent Brockman gives a list of people who are gay. Homer however thinks the comet will eventually disintegrate into a rock smaller than the head of a Chihuahua puppy. He then remembers the family has a bomb shelter, or more like, Ned Flanders has a bomb shelter. He isn't the only one with that idea, as soon everybody in Springfield demands cover from the comet. Ned obliges, but as the shelter becomes extremely overcrowded, they resolve that someone will have to leave by contemplating their usefulness in the future. As he believes left-handed shops are the one thing that wouldn't be needed in the future, Homer proposes that Ned be kicked out, something he sadly complies with.

The rest of the town tries to kill time, but they nearly kill each other as they can't agree on what animal makes a particular sound. Homer, sick of the fighting, chews the town out for not keeping Ned in resolves to join him for a certain death, being followed by everyone else. They all end up joining Ned by singing "Que Sera, Sera" before being interrupted by the comet crossing the atmosphere, destroying both the "Big Butt Skinner" balloon and the bomb shelter in the process, being ultimately eroded by effect of the town's heavy pollution into a small rock no bigger than a Chihuahua head, just as Homer had eerily predicted. Finally, the townspeople resolve to burn down the observatory so this kind of panic doesn't happen again.

* TooDumbToLive: The entire United States military, apparently. Their missiles all have warning labels that say "aim away from face", they misidentify Groundskeeper Willie as an Iraqi fighter jet, blow up two of their own planes trying and failing to shoot Willie down... and then, as their ill-constructed parachutes fall apart, they conclude the military needs more money.

The rest of the town tries to kill time, but they nearly kill each other as they can't agree on what animal makes a particular sound. Homer, sick of the fighting, resolves to join Ned for a certain death, being followed by everyone else. They all end up joining Ned by singing "Que Sera, Sera" before being interrupted by the comet crossing the atmosphere, destroying both the "Big Butt Skinner" balloon and the bomb shelter in the process, being ultimately eroded by effect of the town's heavy pollution into a small rock no bigger than a Chihuahua head, just as Homer had eerily predicted. Finally, the townspeople resolve to burn down the observatory so this kind of panic doesn't happen again.

As the comet approaches nearer, people try jumping their cars over the gorge in absence of the destroyed bridge (only to fall to their deaths), the House of Representatives strikes down a proposed bill that would have evacuated the town after one Congressman also proposes funding pornography with the bill, and Kent Brockman gives a list of people who are gay. Homer however thinks the comet will eventually disintegrate into a rock smaller than the head of a Chihuahua puppy. He then remembers the family has a bomb shelter, or more like, Ned Flanders has a bomb shelter. He isn't the only one with that idea, as soon everybody in Springfield demands cover from the comet. Ned obliges, but as the shelter becomes extremely overcrowded, they resolve that someone will have to leave by contemplating their usefulness in the future. As he believes left-handed shops won't be needed in the future, Homer proposes that Ned be kicked out, something he sadly complies.

The rest of the town tries to kill time, but they nearly kill each other as they can't agree on what animal makes a particular sound. Homer, sick of the fighting, resolves to join Ned for a certain death, being followed by everyone else. They all end up joining Ned by singing "Que Sera, Sera" before being interrupted by the comet crossing the atmosphere, destroying both the "Big Butt Skinner" balloon and the bomb shelter in the process, being ultimately eroded into a small rock no bigger than a Chihuahua head, just as Homer had eerily predicted. Finally, the townspeople resolve to burn down the observatory so this kind of panic doesn't happen again.

The rest of the town tries to kill time, but they nearly kill each other as they can't agree on what animal makes a particular sound. Homer, sick of the fighting, resolves to join Ned for a certain death, being followed by everyone else. They all end up joining Ned by singing "Que Sera, Sera" before being interrupted by the comet crossing the atmosphere, destroying both the "Big Butt Skinner" balloon and the bomb shelter in the process, being ultimately eroded into a small rock no bigger than a Chihuahua head, just as Homer had predicted.

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: This exchange between Bart and Lisa, when they realise the comet is approaching Springfield:

* {{Homage}}: The final act has several to ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'' episode "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS1E22TheMonstersAreDueOnMapleStreet The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street]]". There are even stronger parallels to another TZ episode titled "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS3E68TheShelter The Shelter]]". What makes it all the more hilarious is that, unlike in "The Shelter", Flanders ''did'' build his bomb shelter with the intention of letting other people in, but Homer wants to kick him out anyway. And unlike in "The Shelter", the rest of the town doesn't try to force their way in, but instead ask and sadly start to leave when Flanders tells them there's no room (only for Flanders to change his mind and let them all in anyway).

As it's revealed that Bart carried several items pertaining to the balloon in his pocket, including a copyright notice with an alternate name ("Buttzilla"), Skinner punishes him with having to help with his amateur astronomical observations, which begin at 4.30 in the morning. Turns out that Skinner has been hoping to discover a star, coming very close before being beaten to it by another principal. At first, it seems to be a rather repetitive and dreary task, with Skinner observing thru the telescope and Bart annotating, but then Skinner seems to find a star... that turns out to be the weather balloon. As Skinner rushes to take it down, Bart plays around with the telescope, and ends up discovering a comet. Horrified by finding this out, Skinner loses the balloon and also reads that the President doesn't think too highly of school in the morning paper.

Bart's feat makes the evening paper, and gets the attention of the school's scientific posse, the "Super Friends", who nickname him "Cosmos". When asking him to invite them to see the comet, Bart tells them, much to their disbelief, that they can see it right away... Because it's actually approaching Earth very quickly. As soon as the observatory confirms this, panic spreads, with the town's "doomsday whistle" blaring for the first time in three years, Major Quimby announcing a trip to Springfield... Field, and the projected impact seemingly hitting Moe's Tavern particularly harshly. Fortunately, Professor Frink, with the assistance of some former Carter administration officials and former military men in early retirement, has devised a rocket that will destroy the comet (and presumably Moe's Tavern as well). Anticipation runs high before the rocket not only fails to reach the comet but also destroys the only bridge out of town.

!Plot Summary

As it's revealed that Bart carried several items pertaining to the balloon in his pocket, including a copyright notice with an alternate name ("Buttzilla"), Skinner punishes him with having to help with his amateur astronomical observations, which begin at 4.30 in the morning. Turns out that Skinner has been hoping to discover a star, coming very close before being beaten to it by another principal. At first, it seems to be a rather repetitive and dreary task, with Skinner observing thru the telescope and Bart annotating, but then Skinner seems to find a star... That turns out to be the weather balloon. As Skinner rushes to take it down, Bart plays around with the telescope, and ends up finding a comet. Horrified by finding this out, Skinner loses the balloon and also reads that the President doesn't think too highly of school in the morning paper.

Bart's finding makes the evening paper, and gets the attention of the school's scientific posse, the "Super Friends", who nickname him "Cosmos". When asking him to invite them to see the comet, Bart tells them, much to their disbelief, that they can see it right away... Because it's actually approaching Earth very quickly. As soon as the observatory confirms this, panic spreads, with the town's "doomsday whistle" blaring for the first time in three years, Major Quimby announcing a trip to Springfield... Field, and the projected impact seemingly hitting Moe's Tavern particularly harshly. Fortunately, Professor Frink, with the assistance of some former Carter administration officials and former military men in early retirement, has devised a rocket that will destroy the comet (and presumably Moe's Tavern as well). Anticipation runs high before the rocket not only fails to reach the comet but also destroys the only bridge out of town.

!Tropes featured in "Bart's Comet" include: